In a move that sent shockwaves through the electronic music community, enigmatic producer Aphex Twin released “Music from the Merch Desk (2016-2023)” this week with little warning. The mammoth 38-track digital album compiles the highly sought-after limited edition vinyl EPs and LPs that Richard D. James, the mastermind behind Aphex Twin, had been selling exclusively at the merchandise tables of his festival appearances in recent years.
For hardcore Aphex Twin fans, these rare physical releases became the stuff of legend, often selling out mere hours after festivals gates opened. “By the time most of us regular fans got to the merch desk in the afternoon, the only thing left would be XXL t-shirts and magic beanies,” bemoaned one long-time follower. But with this surprise digital drop, those grail records, which would have cost over $2000 to acquire secondhand, are now available to stream to your heart’s content.
A Feast for Aphex Fanatics
While “Music from the Merch Desk” contains a smattering of filler and raw sketches, the compilation is a veritable bounty for Aphex aficionados. It’s akin to Bob Dylan’s “Bootleg Series” or Taylor Swift’s “From the Vault” tracks—a treasure trove of “new” material for die-hards to dissect and revel in.
The musical delights are many and varied:
- Sumptuous, creamy synths on “No Stillson 6 Cirk” and “SOOG e” that recall AFX’s ambient works
- Riotous breaks and Amen manipulations on “Nightmail”—a ’90s rave weapon with a WH Auden twist
- Syro-esque modular acid and P-Funk zest in “Soundlab20” and “4x Atlantis Take 1”
- Gorgeous piano and birdsong tapestries woven through “Em2500 M253X”
- Flanged hyperpop exuberance on “T13 Quadraverbia N+3”, an ode to RDJ’s early gear
There’s even an official release of Aphex Twin’s winning entry in a 2004 remix contest for Wagon Christ’s “Spiral Staircase”, where he sneakily submitted a drum’n’bass rework but gifted the prize to the runner-up. Cheeky bastard, that James.
The Unpredictable Antics of Richard D. James
Of course, this being Aphex Twin, a straightforward compilation of old tracks would be too predictable. The cover artwork, already familiar to superfans, is a garish knock-off t-shirt design that originally popped up on Etsy. In typical prankster fashion, James printed his own “official” bootleg tees to sling on tour.
It’s the latest in a long history of impish RDJ antics, from his infamously unplayable “Equation” remix to that time he DJed inside an actual tank. Since his brilliant 2014 comeback LP “Syro” and subsequent Soundcloud dump of over 270 unreleased tracks, James has focused his fidgety creativity on pushing the sensory boundaries of his visceral, Weirdcore-assisted live sets. Straddling the Düsseldorf-Detroit-Chicago axis while keeping one foot firmly planted in his native Cornwall, he’s transformed into a formidable festival headliner for a new generation of ravers.
An Electronic Trailblazer Stays Unpredictable
With “Music from the Merch Desk”, Aphex Twin once again keeps us guessing. Will there be more surprise releases of rare physical gems? Secret SoundCloud dumps? Ridiculously limited-edition collaborations with obscure Cornish ammo manufacturers? Knowing Richard D. James, anything’s possible.
For now, fans will be happily poring over this early Aphexmas present—a 38-track jackpot to tide them over until the mad lad’s next unpredictable move. As one ecstatic Redditor put it: “Aphex Twin album drops are like your spouse surprising you with your deepest, darkest fantasy…except it happens once a decade if you’re lucky.” For AFX acolytes, the wait was worth it.
